JOEY JONES knows a thing or two about cup finals. In fact you could say that Joey Jones knows everything about cup finals. And if there's one thing the man who helped Liverpool lift the European Cup in 1977 certainly knows, it's how much Sunday's final will mean to Wrexham players and fans.

It's a showpiece event in the nation's capital, it's a huge game for the cash-strapped Dragons, but, most of all, it's a final.

"I wouldn't miss this one for the world," said the Dragons football coordinator, who will sit on the bench during the match against League Two side Southend on Sunday.

"I don't make it to many away games any more because I'm always out watching the youth side or local matches, but this is going to be a fantastic occasion because every cup final is.

"Players never forget a final, whether it's the World Cup or Wrexham Sunday League's Shelley Cup. Everyone looks forward to it and wants to do their best.

"I can still remember my first cup final, I was 10 and it was for my primary school. If you ask what happened yesterday I couldn't tell you, but in 1966 I helped Stella Mathis Catholic School beat Lloyd Street 1-0. Peter Alderson scored and I was just as proud then as I was when I won the European Cup with Liverpool.

"That's how the Wrexham fans and players will feel on Sunday."

But any bright day for the Dragons can easily be spoilt by the huge black cloud on the horizon.

With talks to prise the club away from owner Alex Hamilton floundering and the date for the Dragons' eviction from the Racecourse nearing, the huge revenue from the LDV Vans final won't guarantee the 134-year-old club's future.

And while that upsets Jones, who originally joined Wrexham straight from school in 1970, he's determined that Sunday's big day should not be tinged with sadness.

"It's going to be a great occasion but many Wrexham fans would swap it to make sure we had a club in the future," he added..

"But there's probably no better stage to highlight our problems than live on TV.

"We've got to highlight the plight of lower division clubs, a lot of which are struggling to survive.

"Generations of families have grown up supporting Wrexham, and there's a real chance we could lose that, but the staff have got to be professional and keep ploughing on.

"The fans are working so hard to try and sort out the mess by raising money. Their efforts are not just for now, but for generations to come."

Southend hold a special place in Jones' heart. Back in 1975, the 72-cap Welshman scored his first ever goal against the Shrimpers. That day Wrexham drew, a scoreline that cannot be repeated when the two sides meet this time around.

Steve Tilson's men are top of League Two and unbeaten in 17 matches.

"Southend are having a good season," added Jones. "They're probably one of the most in-form teams in the country, like a lower league Chelsea."

The first, and so far only time Jones visited the national stadium in Cardiff was when he was among the legends handed a "golden cap" for their contribution to Wales as Mark

Hughes' side took on Russia in the second leg of the Euro 2004 play-off.

The occasion left a huge impression on the 50-year-old.

"I've played at Wembley, Hampden Park, everywhere from top to bottom. The Millennium Stadium beats them all. "It's all set up to be a great occasion, something we can look back on with fond memories - if the club manages to survive." JooeeyyJJoonneessbbaarrkkss oorrddeerrssffrroomm tthheebbeenncchh